The band's membership has seen much turnover, including a revolving cast of drummers in the 1970s and the departure of singer Rob Halford in 1992. Tim "Ripper" Owens, formerly of Winter's Bane, replaced Halford in 1996 and recorded two albums with Judas Priest, before Halford returned to the band in 2003. The current line-up consists of Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis. The band's best-selling album is 1982's Screaming for Vengeance, with their most commercially successful line-up featuring Ian Hill, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, guitarist K. K. Downing, and drummer Dave Holland. Tipton and Hill are the only two members of the band to appear on every album.
Halford's operatic vocal style and the twin guitar sound of Downing and Tipton have been a major influence on heavy metal bands. Judas Priest's image of leather, spikes, and other taboo articles of clothing were widely influential during the glam metal era of the 1980s. The Guardian referred to British Steel as the record that defines heavy metal. Despite a decline in exposure during the mid-1990s, the band has once again seen a resurgence, including worldwide tours, being inaugural inductees into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, receiving a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010, and having their songs featured in video games such as Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series. In 2022, Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Priest
Studio albums
Rocka Rolla (1974)
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
Sin After Sin (1977)
Stained Class (1978)
Killing Machine (1978)
British Steel (1980)
Point of Entry (1981)
Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
Defenders of the Faith (1984)
Turbo (1986)
Ram It Down (1988)
Painkiller (1990)
Jugulator (1997)
Demolition (2001)
Angel of Retribution (2005)
Nostradamus (2008)
Redeemer of Souls (2014)
Firepower (2018)
Invincible Shield (2024)
Beyond the Realms of Death
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He couldn't take anymore
He found a place in his mind
And slammed the door
No matter how they tried
They couldn't understand
They washed and dressed him
Fed him by hand
Yeah! I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Withdrawn he sat there
Staring into space
No sign of life
Would flicker on his face
Until one day he smiled
It seemed as though with pride
The wind kissed him goodbye
And then he died
Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for livin' in
Yeah I will start again
It can take forever, and ever whatever, whenever, but I'll still win
How many like him
Are they still
Who to us all
Seem to have lost the will
They lie in thousands
Lank and lost
Is knowledge worth this bitter cost
Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for living in
Beyond the realms of death
"Beyond the Realms of Death" is a song by the British heavy metal band Judas Priest. The song tells the story of a man who decides to take his own life because he feels he has no control over it. He withdraws into his own mind, shutting the door on the world and the people who were trying to help him. In his own mind, he is free to speak with his own kind and to make his own decisions. He finds peace and safety in his own mind, feeling that the world is not fit for living in.
The song strongly conveys the message that people should be free to make their own choices, and that they should not be judged or controlled by others. The lyrics speak to the feelings of isolation and desperation that some people experience, and the hopelessness that can lead to suicide. The chorus of the song repeats the refrain, "I'll decide not you", emphasizing the importance of self-determination and personal freedom.
Overall, "Beyond the Realms of Death" is a powerful and emotional song that deals with important themes of mental health, suicide, and personal liberty. It encourages people to be true to themselves and to resist the pressures and constraints of society.
Line by Line Meaning
He's had enough
He has reached his limit
He couldn't take anymore
He can no longer handle the situation
He found a place in his mind
He escaped mentally
And slammed the door
He has isolated himself
No matter how they tried
They attempted but failed
They couldn't understand
They were unable to comprehend
They washed and dressed him
They took care of him physically
Fed him by hand
They provided him with food
Yeah! I've left the world behind
He has abandoned reality
I'm safe here in my mind
He feels secure in his thoughts
I'm free to speak with my own kind
He can express himself without fear of judgment
This is my life, this is my life
He will make his own choices
I'll decide not you
He is in control of his own life, not others
Withdrawn he sat there
He sat alone and detached
Staring into space
He was lost in his thoughts
No sign of life
He seemed dead inside
Would flicker on his face
He showed no emotion
Until one day he smiled
He experienced joy
It seemed as though with pride
He felt a sense of accomplishment
The wind kissed him goodbye
He passed away peacefully
And then he died
He left this world
Keep the world with all its sin
He doesn't want to be a part of the corrupt world
It's not fit for livin' in
He believes the world is not suitable for life
Yeah I will start again
He will begin anew
It can take forever, and ever whatever, whenever, but I'll still win
He will continue to strive for happiness indefinitely
How many like him
How many others are like him
Are they still
Are they still alive
Who to us all
Who seem to have lost their way
Seem to have lost the will
Who have lost the desire to live
They lie in thousands
There are many people like this
Lank and lost
They're emaciated and without direction
Is knowledge worth this bitter cost
Is it worth living in a world like this
Beyond the realms of death
Death is the ultimate escape from this world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LESLIE JAMES BINKS, ROBERT JOHN ARTHUR HALFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sero17835
He's had enough
He couldn't take anymore
He found a place in his mind
And slammed the door
No matter how they tried
They couldn't understand
They washed and dressed him
Fed him by hand
Yeah! I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Withdrawn he sat there
Staring into space
No sign of life
Would flicker on his face
Until one day he smiled
It seemed as though with pride
The wind kissed him goodbye
And then he died
Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for livin' in
Yeah I will start again
It can take forever, and ever whatever, whenever, but I'll still win
How many like him
Are they still
Who to us all
Seem to have lost the will
They lie in thousands
Lank and lost
Is knowledge worth this bitter cost
Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you
Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for living in
Beyond the realms of death
@MrMetalhorse
In my opinion, the best Judas Priest solo and one of the best of all time.
Very underrated. I definitely put it up there with comfortably numb and stairway to heaven.
@TheUniversalEyes
Genius solo, it keeps growing and growing.
@tasnam
Agreed Mr. Metalhorse
@mataruizgaelalejandro144
Prisoner of your eyes is much better
@inlakesh555
Do you mean the solo by KK or by Glenn?
@MrMetalhorse
inlakesh555 Glenn
@mksounds6326
One of the greatest guitar solos ever played. If that mournful, sustained note at the end doesn't get you, you've never had your heart broken by death.
MK
@cherylmaloney8841
omg MK sounds ..... that is the most perfect way to explain it!!!!
@mksounds6326
@Cheryl Maloney Thank you.
MK
@gerddagamarose3530
The Perfect Drum Fills with the complex effects Cymbals only serves to complement the Guitar Solo